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"Then our cameraman's regulator burst at 8,500 metres and this time Ang Thindu [in tears] volunteered his bottle and regulator.

"As if that wasn't bad enough, at 8,800 metres, at a life-threatening height, my second regulator exploded on my back. To say it was terrifying is an understatement.

“My heart sank. If I was scuba diving, I would have been dead."

This time it was his British team leader, world-renowned mountaineer Kenton Cool, also 44, who came to his aid.

"He gave me his only cylinder and mask," Fogle said.

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Fogle taking his last few steps to the top of Everest

But he added: "Kenton was able to descend to the South Col for an emergency mask.

"In total we lost four regulators and we met many other teams forced to abandon their attempts due to the problem.

“It seems to be a major issue on Everest his year and I hope we get to the bottom of the problem before someone loses their life."

Fogle said he felt "honoured" to arrive at the summit with Cool and the award-winning cameraman Mark Fisher, who is filming a documentary for CNN, but said: "The real heroes of Everest are not the climbers but the Sherpas."

At a life-threatening height, my second regulator exploded on my back

Ben Fogle

As he took in the beauty of the Himalayas from the summit, Fogle posed for what he described as his "most important photo": a picture of the soft toys his children Ludo, eight, and Iona, six, gave him before he left.

He posted the image taken against a backdrop of the spectacular snowcapped landscape with the caption: "My children's Panda and carrot that hitchhiked to the roof of the world with me."

He added: "When I set out on this expedition, it was always with clarity and honesty that success was never guaranteed. Indeed I always put personal welfare above any summit ego."

He added: "This whole Everest expedition has been such an incredible adventure.

"It is almost impossible to summarise what the past five weeks have been like here in the high Himalayas.

“The Nepalese Sherpas have been one of the highlights. Their eyes twinkle with such beauty.

"Indeed in many ways it has been their beautiful spirit that has kept up my own spirits when they have been battled by physical and mental challenges.

“I never thought climbing Everest was going to be easy, indeed it has tested me in ways other expeditions haven't. Success and failure have become constant bedfellows.

"But reaching the top of the world will remain a highlight of my life."

PA

Wife Marina, with their son Luda, daughter Iona and family dog Storm

He paid tribute to double Olympic gold-winning cyclist Victoria Pendleton, 37, who was his climbing partner at the start but who had to pull out of the ascent after suffering a severe bout of altitude sickness during the acclimatisation phase.

Calling her "the one big missing part of the expedition", he said: "We missed you, Vic, but you were there in spirit.

“We trained for world mountaineering together and you were an inspiration. My only regret is that you weren't able to stand on the roof of the world with me."

Fogle will make his way back to the Nepalese capital Kathmandu where he will catch a flight back to the UK to be reunited with his wife Marina and their children at the weekend.

His climb in support of The British Red Cross was backed by Anythingis Possible.world. Fogle is a UN Patron of the Wilderness and Mountain Hero.